Jobless rate dips

Though Scotland County’s unemployment rate fell slightly in July, the county still held the highest rate in the state, according to a report from the N.C. Department of Commerce this week.

The county’s unemployment rate fell a fraction of a percent from June, to 16 percent from 16.2, creating a more marked decrease from the state of employment one year ago. The jobless rate in Scotland County in July 2012 was 17.9 percent.

Statewide, North Carolina had 9.1 percent unemployment for the month of July, with 38 counties holding jobless rates in excess of 10 percent. That rate is also down a partial percentage from 9.3 percent.

The number of workers employed statewide increased in July by 16,507 to 4,319,371, while those unemployed decreased by 6,726 to 431,935. Since July 2012, the number of workers employed statewide increased 25,227, while those unemployed decreased 45,241.

While Scotland held the state’s highest unemployment rate, Currituck County had the lowest at 5.3 percent. Among the state’s Metropolitan Statistical Areas, Rocky Mount at 13.3 percent experienced the highest rate and Asheville at 6.8 percent had the lowest.

Of Scotland’s neighboring counties, Richmond had an 11.9. percent unemployment rate, with 13.3 percent in Robeson, 9.2 in Hoke, and 8.5 in Moore.